Changes in dry weight, protein, deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid and reserve and structural carbohydrate during the aerobic growth cycle of yeast

Abstract

1. Changes in dry weight, DNA, RNA, protein and reserve and structural carbohydrate were measured during the aerobic growth of yeast on 0.9% glucose in an aerobic synthetic medium. 2. After glucose had been consumed and during the growth of yeast on ethanol and acetate, the rate of formation of DNA remained about the same but the rate of increase of dry weight was greatly diminished. 3. During the second stage of growth the ratios dry weight/DNA, protein/DNA, RNA/DNA and carbohydrate/DNA decreased to about 30% of the corresponding values during the first stage of growth. 4. A higher fraction of the dry weight of the yeast cells could be accounted for by the reserve carbohydrate content of the cells during the second stage of growth. 5. By the end of the first stage of growth an increase in the reserve carbohydrate content of the cells was observed. Part of this reserve carbohydrate was consumed by the cells in the beginning of the second stage of growth. The possibility of adaptation of cells at the expense of their reserves is discussed.